INTRODUCTION TO THE FLYING FIELD

Welcome! We are glad you are also interested in this exciting hobby and welcome you aboard! The "Radio Signal Modelers Flying Club" has been chartered to operate this field since 1971 and our many experienced flying club members are here to help you get started. Guest pilots should introduce themselves upon arriving at the field. New, beginner flyers should additionally ask to be assisted by an experienced helper or club instructor. No impatient, know-it-all, or reckless flyers will be tolerated. Spectators, and dog walking is not allowed on the field or pit area at any time, kindly ask them to leave the area.

Club Benefits: Joining our flying club has many benefits such as free expert flight instruction, soloing, plane checkups, flying tips, advice and use of dual control "buddy box" hardware to hopefully save your model from a crash. Our club also has special events such as Fun-Flys and BBQ's. Your club dues pays for all the field maintenance, permits, etc. If you fly here often, please do your part and join the club. New planes that have not yet been "maiden", should be gone over by one of our experienced pilots to check it thoroughly before it’s first and initial flight. We usually find a problem or two that would have caused you to crash. Please have lots of patience and take advantage of our clubs' experience. This hobby can be very dangerous to yourself and others at the field.

Insurance card is mandatory: AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) liability insurance is mandatory for use in this field. Get it at the AMA website. (See our LINKS page on club's website) The exception to this rule is during introductory pilot training sessions given by one of the clubs’ instructors, in which case you are covered. You must also read and understand the official "safety code" of the AMA as contained in that national organization’s regulations handbook.

Use of our radio frequency control board is mandatory: Only a current "AMA CARD" , or printout of your "AMA RECEIPT" , or our RSM CLUB card will be allowed to secure a channel on the frequency board. Immediately upon arriving at the field, please walk over to the frequency board and check to see if your channel is in use. If free, then post your AMA card in this slot. If not, then find the person on your channel and share it by mutual agreement. You will both then have to "impound" your transmitters on the shed shelving while the other pilot is using the channel. This guarantees no accidental transmitter turn-ons at your station.

Toys R’ Us / AirHogs, etc. These planes are considered "toys" and operate on the 27 Mhz frequency band. These things barely (if at all) fly and this flying field was not intended for this type of aircraft although you are welcome to try it out here. Just introduce yourself and let the pilots know before you turn it on so we can make sure it’s really on the 27Mhz toy frequency and not on our 72Mhz radio band. We suggest you wait until there is absolutely no wind to fly these toys, such as daybreak and sunset, or you'll just crash.

Field Maintenance: No flying is permitted during periods of field maintenance. All club members are asked to pitch-in and help out with the grass cutting, edging, trimming etc. If you see one of the members working at the field, just ask what you can do to help.

Flying is not allowed close to the flight line and must be beyond the white safety stripe.

Airplane pilots, please wait until all heli's have landed before flying in the main airspace as simultaneous plane and heli flying do not mix very well. Conversely, heli pilots, please wait until the planes have landed.

Engine break-in's must be done east of the pit area due to damage to grass and noise problems.

Engines must be started on the supplied square tables or aircraft benches, not the picnic tables. The square table gets moved around a lot, so just move it back.

Heli pilots, please wait until all airplanes have landed before flying in the main airspace as simultaneous plane and heli flying do not mix very well. Conversely, airplane pilots, please wait until the heli’s have landed.

Hovering practice and testing is restricted to the round heli pad area located at the extreme west side of the pit area and can be done at anytime.

Pilots on final approach for a landing shall have priority over all other aircraft and yell out "LANDING"! Other pilots should respond "UP AND OUT" and then free up the runway area.

When a potentially out-of-control and hazardous flight over flyers or spectators is about to happen, it shall be the duty of any observer to yell out a loud warning such as "HEADS UP"!!!

A pilot making a engine-out approach shall yell out "DEAD STICK"! All other pilots must give immediate priority to him.

When walking out on the field to pickup your downed aircraft, yell out "ON THE FIELD"! and make sure you get a response from other flying pilots.

Thank you for reading this and helping to keep this flying field a fun and safe place to fly!

R/C Airplane Pre-Flight Check Off List

	1.	Log your frequency with your AMA card on the frequency board, yes even 2.4 GHz systems
	2.	Assemble the aircraft checking for all lose nuts, bolts, snap links, and wire connections. Verify that the aircraft balances at the center of gravity as noted in the manufactures manual and also balances down the center of the aircraft by holding the prop and under the tail
	3.	Turn on your transmitter first, and then your aircrafts receiver
	4.	Completely fill the fuel tank, or install the flight battery pack(s)
	5.	Verify that all of the control surfaces move in the proper direction (TIP: from rear of the aircraft, move the right aileron gimbal to the right, the right side aileron should move to the up position if correct)
	6.	Set the radio trims to neutral and check the surfaces align properly
	7.	Check the transmitter and receiver batteries for a safe charge level
	8.	Have a helper range check the aircraft at least 100 yards with the antenna down, or pressing the back button on the 2.4 GHz systems. There should be rock solid movement without jittering at this range
	9.	Check that the starter bench is clear of all bystanders, articles, and there is no lose clothing that can be pulled into the propeller blades. Move your controls to see that your transmitter and receiver are ON, attach the glo-starter and start your engine with an electric starter or a “chicken stick”. Once started wave your hand away from the propeller around back to your body in a circular type motion
	10.	Make adjustments required to tune the engine from behind the aircraft being sure that the throttle operates throughout the entire range and a slow idle can be achieved in the full down gimbaled position. The throttle trim shall have available movement to power the aircraft off
	11.	Look around for people and Pilots around you. At a slow idle pick the aircraft up from the bench with both hands and set it down at the edge of the taxi area / flight line. The idle should be slow enough for the aircraft not to roll away
	12.	Verify that the transmitter antenna is fully extended if it does so
	13.	Verify the direction of the windsock, and taxi down wind calling out “TAKING OFF” to alert other Pilots of your intentions if the field is clear. Listen for other Pilots communication of any warning
	14.	Fully apply throttle, while correcting for ground control with the rudder gimbal until the aircraft leaves the ground flying straight ahead while building airspeed. Try not to exceed 15 – 20 degrees of + pitch. Do make any turns until the aircraft reaches a safe airspeed. You may induce a stall to occur if the pitch is too great or turn before the aircraft is at a safe enough airspeed. Any control movement will slow the aircraft down to some extent
	15.	* Exception: * If you are to hand launch your aircraft you must call out “TAKING OFF” to alert other Pilots of your intentions, then walk out to the edge of the flight line and then launch the aircraft
	16.	Do not make your initial turn into the direction of the flight line always turn away as the aircraft is still building airspeed, it will not fully stable, and you may require some trimming
	17.	Never fly over the pit areas, were people are located, or over Irving Park Road
	18.	When the aircraft has reached speed and is at least 50 feet in the air you can start to adjust the trims if required. Trimming is done best when flying into the wind and you have enough distance to finish. You should be able to fly into the wind with your fingers off the gimbals and achieve level flight without the aircraft rising, sinking, or turning in any direction
	19.	It is a good practice to time your flights, so you are aware how long it takes to land with some fuel still left in the tank. Always prepare for other Pilots requiring to land and for dead-stick emergencies that may require you to stay aloft long that you anticipated
	20.	When ready to setup for your landing call out “LANDING” and listen for other Pilots communication of any warnings. Throttle back and get ready to make your final turn aligning yourself to the middle of the field. You should only be about 5-10 feet above the ground when you pass the edge of the cut grass. Cut the throttle all the way and watch the speed of the plane slow down just before it reaches stall speed flare with up elevator just before the wheels touch the ground. Your aircraft should look like a feather coming down and causes very little shock to the aircrafts structure.

Fly Safe!
(Revised May 9th 2009 Safety Officer – Radio Signal Modelers Club )

Radio Signal Modelers Club Website